Copying apparatus and feeding mechanism therefor



Sept. 21, 1965 w. LIMBERGER COPYING APPARATUS AND FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIIIII I Sept. 21, 1965 w. LIMBERGER COPYING APPARATUS AND FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1963 /NVN7'0P WALTER LIMBE RG E R AGENT United States Patent 3,207,506 COPYING APPARATUS AND FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Walter Limberger, Hamburg-Poppenbuttel, Germany, as-

SigllOr t0 Lumoprint Zintller KG., Hamburg, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,892 Claims priority, application Germany, June 20, 1962, L 42,270 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-3) This invention relates to a feeding arrangement in an apparatus for making copies, said apparatus comprising a light-exposure device and a developing device, the exposure device having an inlet and an outlet for jointly moving an original and a transfer or negative sheet in and out the developing device having an inlet with juxtaposed slots for separately receiving the exposed transfer sheet, the original and a receiving or positive sheet simultaneously introduced therein.

In conventional apparatus of this type, the exposure device and the developing device are generally disposed one behind the other and the path for the receiving sheet is led in such a manner that the length of this path corresponds to the length of the path for the transfer sheet from the inlet slot of the apparatus through the exposure device to the entrance of the developing device, in order to insure proper synchronization. This requirement, however, imposes certain limitations upon the designer.

The main object of this invention is to provide, in a copying apparatus, a feeding arrangement which is adapted for the simultaneous introduction of the original, the transfer sheet and the receiving sheet into closely adjacent slots, which assures a properly synchronized transmit of the exposed transfer sheet and the receiving sheet independently of the relative lengths of the guide paths of the individual sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a copying apparatus which, by a positioning of the exposure station above the developing station, requires a minimum of space and which, by the provision of common inlet means for all the sheets to be introduced, is operable in a simple manner.

According to the invention I provide a retaining station in which the feeding of the receiving sheet to the inlet of the developing device is arrested until the transfer sheet returns from the exposure device, the apparatus further having means operative upon the arrival of the exposed transfer sheet for transporting same together with the receiving sheet from the retaining station into the developing device.

One feature of the invention is to be seen in that the inlet with the juxtaposed slots for the receiving sheet on the one hand and for the original and the transfer sheet on the other hand, the retaining station for the receiving sheet, the associated drive means, and the separating means for the original are arranged within a special unit detachably connected to the copying apparatus proper, the guide paths of this unit being provided with extensions which may be brought into engagement with the entrance port and, if desired, with the discharge port of the exposure and developing devices in the main housing. It should be noted, however, that the feeding mechanism according to the invention may also be arranged in a common housing accommodating also an exposure station and a developing station as well as other parts.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an apparatus embodying the invention in which the feeding mechanism is arranged in a separate unit; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the drive means for the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

The copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises within a housing 1 an exposure device 2 and a developing device 3. The exposure device 2 is arranged to the rear of an entrance opening 4 and a discharge opening 5. The exposure device includes a radiation source 6 arranged stationarily within the housing 1 and surrounded by a glass cylinder 7 supported in elastomeric guide belts 8 consisting, for example of rubber. The guide belts 8 are guided around rollers 9, 10, and 11 of which at least one, for example the roller 11, is driven in a direction indicated by the arrow.

The developing device 3 comprises a container 12 for a developing medium. At least one guide element 13 leads into this container 12 through an inlet opening 14 of the housing 1 so as to divide this inlet opening into two slots 15 and 16, one for introducing the exposed transfer sheet and the other one for the receiving sheet. Inlet paths which are at least initially separated extend from these slots 15, 16 through the container 12 to a pair of squeezing and transporting rollers 17 and 18 having a gap disposed below an outlet opening 19 in the housing 1. These rollers are also driven.

A more detailed description of the units combined in the housing 1 is believed to be superfluous, since such devices are well known. It is to be understood, of course, that the housing accommodates electrical connections and conduit means, a drive motor for the driven parts and, if necessary, also a fan for cooling the exposure device.

It will be noted that the inlet and outlet openings 4 and 5 are arranged in the front wall 20 of the housing 1, and that the slots 15 and 16, though arranged in the top wall of the housing, are also disposed directly adjacent the front wall 20. This arrangement has merely been selected to illustrated more clearly the possibility of using a separate attachment. It will readily be understood that the developing device may be constructed in such a way that also the slots 15 and 16 are disposed in the front wall, or in the zone of the upper end of the front Wall.

Associated with the housing 1 is an ancillary unit 21 arranged forwardly of the front wall 20 of the housing 1. The side of the unit 21 remote from the housing 1 is provided with an inlet slot 22 for the receiving sheet and an inlet slot 23 for the original and the transfer sheet, these slots being arranged directly one below the other. In the lower part of this front wall an outlet opening 24 is formed for the return of the original.

A guide path for the receiving sheet, generally indicated at 25, extends from the inlet slot 22. This guide path 25 comprises an upwardly bent guide element 27 forming an extension of a guide element 26 which acts as a partition between the slots 22 and 23. Cooperating with the guide element 27 is a guide element 28 which, however, terminates at a distance from the slot 22. Between the slot 22 and the guide element 28 there is disposed a resilient retaining means 30 for arresting the receiving sheet until an associated transporting device 31, 32 is actuated, in response to the arrival of the exposed transfer sheet, for moving the sheets towards the inlet of the developing device. To this end the retaining means 30 is construed in such a way that the receiving sheet is moved into the succeeding transporting device 31, 32, whereby it will be taken along when this transporting device starts moving. Preferably the retaining means is formed by a roller 30 driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 29 and serving in this zone as an upper guide element. The roller 30 is arranged in a bend of the second guide element 27 and may be spaced somewhat therefrom since an introduced sheet is urged against the roller 30 in the zone of the bend by its inherent stiffness. Preferably, however, the roller 30 rotates in contacting engagement 3 with the guide element 27 or is spaced therefrom by less than the thickness of a receiving sheet. The roller is provided with a resilient outer peripheral wall and, as shown, may be formed by a brush.

At the ends of the second and the third guide elements 27, 28 the guide path 25 is defined on both sides by the transporting rollers 31, 32 which are freely rotatably within the housing 21 with resilient contact within the guide path 25. It will be apparent that the rollers 31, 32 form an abutment when standing still, thus stopping receiving sheet which is moved into the gap of the stationary rollers 31, 32 by the brush roller 30. Evidently other means may also be used as a transporting device, for example only one roller cooperating with one guide surface, or a belt-like selectively operated transport device. In the illustrated embodiment with the pair of rollers 31, 32 at least one roller may be journaled for displacement towards the other one under the force of a spring acting in this direction. Advantageously the pair of rollers 31, 32 consist of rubber. The guide path 25 is extended behind the pair of rollers by guide elements 33 and 34, which project from the housing 21 and are formed in such a Way as to terminate at the slot 16, i.e. the upper guide element 33 at the upper edge of the slot and the lower guide element 34 at the end of the guide element 13 of the developing device 3 disposed as a divider in the opening 14. Evidently the upper guide element 33 at the upper edge of the slot 16 may also project into the slot to engage a guide element for the receiving sheet in the developing device.

The inlet slot 23, which is defined at the top by the guide element 26, is defined by a guide element 35 at the bottom. The two guide elements form the beginning of a feeding channel leading to the entrance port 4 of the exposure device 2. This feeding channel is interrupted a short distance behind the inlet slot 23 by a transverse edge of the guide element 35 and is defined beyond this interruption at the top by a guide element 37, extending out of the housing 21 and into the entrance port 4, and at the bottom by a roller 38 and thereafter by a guide element 39 which also extends into the port 4 up to the very inlet of the exposure device 2 between the roller 11 and the glass cylinder 7.

The guide element 37 terminates approximately at the crest of the roller 38 and is bent slightly upwardly at its end facing the slot 23 so as to form with the roller 38 a rearwardly converging gap. Preferably the front portion 40 of the guide element 37, overlying the roller 38, is connected to the remainder of that guide element by a hinge 41 so as to be movable in the directions indicated by the arrow 42 whereby this guide element resiliently engages the roller 38. The roller 38 is constantly driven in a direction indicated by the arrow 43, and thus assists in transporting the original and the transfer sheet which have been introduced through the slot 23 and through the feeding channel 36.

The roller 38 coacts, e.g., elastically, with another roller 44 which rotates in the'direction indicated by the arrow. Both rollers 38 and 44 may, for example, be provided with peripheral rubber layer. Preferably the roller 44 is provided with equipped grooves 45 extending in axial direction. An extremity of a guide element 46, secured to one end of the guide element 35 and curving around the roller 38 in spaced relation at the side of the slot 23, projects into one of the grooves 45. At the side of the pair of rollers 38, 44 facing the housing 1 a delivery channel 47 for the original and the exposed transfer sheet is defined, next to the discharge port 5, by a lower guide element 48 and an upper guide element 49, both extending out of the housing 21 and into the opening up to the very outlet of the exposure device 2 between the roller 9 and the glass cylinder 7. Within this delivery channel 47 there is provided a separating device generally indicated at 50. Beyond this separating device 50 the delivery channel 47 continues to the gap of the pair of rollers 38, 44, guide elements 51 and 52 serving to define the channel at that point.

In the region of the separating device 50 in the inlet of a branch channel 55 is defined by guide elements 53, 54 leading toward the outlet opening 24 for the original. Within the branch channel 50 another pair of transporting rollers 56, 57 may be arranged, of which at least one roller is driven, so that both rollers rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the illustrated embodiment the separating device 50 is formed by a pivoting segment 58. When use is made of such a pivoting segment, the original and the transfer sheet are introduced into the slot 23 with offset edges in such a way that the transfer sheet leads the original. Consequently, the transfer sheet moves over a deflecting tongue 60, provided with an upwardly inclined surface 59, and engages an abutment surface 61 so as to swing the segment 58 pivoting around its pivotal axis 59'. The weight distribution of the pivoting segment 58 is such that a very small force acting against the abutment surface 61 is suflicient to rotate the segment in a clockwise direction. By this means the leading edge of the transfer sheet is guided over the pivoting segment and advances below the guide surface 52 whereas by the concurrent lifting of the deflecting tongue 60, the transfer sheet is simultaneously separated from the trailing front edge of the original. Therefore the original moves below the deflecting tongue into the branch channel 55, since the lower surface of the pivoting segment 58, when in a position shown in dashed lines, will guide the original into the branch channel 55.

The off-normal position of the pivoting segment 58 is maintained by the stiffness of the upwardly bent transfer sheet running along the guide element 52 and, shortly beyond segment 58, also the pull of the pair of rollers 38, 45 will become effective. After the pivoting segment 58 is released by the transfer sheet it may return to its initial position by gravity. It is possible to arrange the facing end 62 of the guide element 49 to pivot upwardly around a hinge 63 in such a way that it projects beyond the deflecting tongue 60 and is lifted by the tongue through the intermediary of the transfer sheet. In this case also the weight of the end 62 assists in returning the pivoting segment 58 to its initial position after the transfer sheet has moved past.

It is to be noted that instead of pivoting segment 58 also some other separating device may be utilized, for example a pair of separating rollers rotating in the same direction. If a pair of separating rollers is used it is not indispensible that the original and the transfer sheet be introduced with offset edges.

At the gap formed by the aforementioned interruption of the feeding channel 36 a guide path 64 branches off beyond the guide elements 26 and 35. This guide path 64 is formed, next to the gap, by guide elements 65 and 66, the guide element 65 being shown as forming an extension of the guide element 26. An adjoining portion of the feed path 64 is defined at the top and the bottom by a pair of rollers 67 and 68 which may act as control rollers. The two rollers 67, 68 are fixedly spaced from each other in such a way that the gap formed between the rollers is less than the thickness of the transfer sheet moving through the guide path 64. The roller 67, consisting for example of metal or plastic material, is constantly driven in a direction indicated by the arrows 69. The roller 68 is supported for free rotation within the housing 21 in such a manner that it will contact the roller 32, though it could also be coupled thereto in some other manner :so as to rotate the same. The roller 68 may be provided with a rubber covering. The pressure between the rollers 68 and 32 is suflicient that the roller 32and thus also the roller 31is rotated if the roller 68 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Behind the pair of rollers 67, 68 the guide path 64 is I defined by guide elements 7 0 and 71 which extend out of the housing 21 to a location below the guide element 34 to provide a connection between the guide path 64 and the inlet slot 15.

The attachment 21 further accommodates a drive motor 72 actuating the positively driven parts as described. For the sake of clearness the transmissions have not been shown in FIG. 1. These transmissions may, for example, consist of helical endless springs connecting the drive shaft of the motor 72 with the drive pulleys of the rollers 67, 30, 38, 57. If the feeding assembly arranged within housing 21 is included in the main housing 1, a common drive motor for all rotating parts of the exposure device, the developing device and the feeding mechanism will, of course, be sufficient.

The guide elements and the rollers of the feeding mechanism illustrated in the housing 21 are supported by walls of the housing 21 disposed parallel to the plane of the drawing as will be understood readily by persons skilled in the art so that a detailed description of their mounting appears superfluous.

With the detachable feeding unit illustrated, the ends of the guide elements 33, 34, 70, 71, 37, 39, 48, 49 extend out of the housing 21 and may consist of flexible material, whereby they may be fitted easily to corresponding openings of the housing 1 even in the case of inaccurate alignment. Special connecting means may of course be provided between the housing 1 and 21.

The operation is as follows:

A stack formed by a receiving sheet, the original and a transfer sheet is introduced into the slots 22 23 with separation of the receiving sheet from the original and the transfer sheet. The sensitive layer of the receiving sheet or positive faces downwardly, while the sensitive layer of the transfer sheet or negative, which is disposed below the original, faces upwardly. The receiving sheet moves through the guide path 25 until it strikes the gap of the unoperated detent rollers 31, 32, having been advanced along this path first manually and thereafter under the action of the brush roller which still contacts the receiving sheet when its leading edge abuts against the rollers 31, 32.

The original and the transfer sheet move below the bent end portion of the guide element 37 and, by slightly lifting it, are advanced by the rotating roller 38 until they enter the exposure device 2, from where they are moved into the outlet channel 47 wherein the original is guided by the separating device 50, in the manner already described, into the branch channel and then by means of the pair of transporting rollers 56, 57 through the opening 24 out of the apparatus. The exposed transfer sheet passes between the rollers 38, 44 and is directed by the guide element 46 into the guide path 64, as indicated by the arrow 73. Thus an important feature resides in the fact that the inlet channel 36 for the original and the transfer sheet are advantageously interrupted in the zone of the driven roller 38, and that the exposed transfer sheet is moved by this roller transversely across this inlet channel 36. The length of the inlet channel 36 and the length of the outlet channel 47 are such that the trailing edges of the original and of the transfer sheet have just moved past the point of intersection at the channel gap. When the transfer sheet, which is advanced by the rollers 38, 44, reaches the nip of the rollers 67, 68 the latter roller is positively entrained. Thereby also the rollers 31, 32 are rotated so as to grip the leading edge of the receiving sheet, which up to this time had been maintained in a position of readiness, and move it between the guide elements 33, 34 towards the slot 16. Simultaneously the exposed transfer sheet enters the slot 15, since the rollers 67, 68 on the one hand and the rollers 31, 32 on the other hand are spaced by equal distances from these slots.

In FIG. 2 the drive means are shown in a schematic manner. The motor 72 and the driven parts, in particular the rollers, are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Mounted on the drive shaft of the motor 72 is a pulley 74 accommodating a pair of helical, endless springs 75, 76 also known as garter springs, respectively driving the rollers 57, '67 through the intermediary of pulleys 77, 78 mounted on the roller shafts. One garter spring 79 connects the drive pulley 78 of roller 67 with a drive pulley 80 on the shaft of feed roller 30, and a garter spring 81 connects this pulley 80 with a drive pulley 82 for the roller 38 Whose shaft is further connected by a garter spring 83 with a drive pulley 84 for the roller 44. The roller 56 is driven by the roller 57 via a garter spring 85. If the feeding mechanism is accommodated in the same housing with the exposure device and the developing device, a transmission 86 connects, for example, the motor 72 with the roller 11, and a transmission 87 connects, for example, the roller 11 with the squeezing and transporting rollers 17, 18.

It will be understood that numerous changes and alterations are possoble without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The arrangement may, for example, be such that the entrance port of the exposure device is disposed below its discharge port whereby no crossing of the inlet channel is required.

As will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure, I have provided a copying apparatus wherein a looped path 36, 47 is formed partly in the main housing 1 and partly in the attachment housing 21 for jointly advancing the original or master sheet and the transfer sheet through the exposure device 2, with the sensitive layer of the transfer sheet facing the master sheet on the outside of the loop. After the master sheet has been branched off at the location 50 into the discharge path 55, the transfer sheet enters an upward passage which intersects the vertical loop between the inlet 22, 23 and the device 2 at the point indicated by arrow 73 and continues as guide path 64 toward the developing device 3 where it merges with the extension of the feed channel 25 for the receiving sheet. Owing to this intersection of the upper rim of the loop, the transfer sheet is inverted so that its sensitive layer now faces the receiving sheet alongside which the transfer sheet is introduced into the developing device whence the two sheets are discharged by the ejection rollers 17, 18.

I claim:

1. In a copying apparatus comprising housing means having an inlet for the point introduction of a master sheet, a transfer sheet and a receiving sheet in stacked relationship, an exposure device in said housing means jointly traversable by said master and transfer sheets for reproducing the contents of said sheet on said transfer sheet, and a developing device jointly traversable by the exposed transfer sheet and said receiving sheet for producing a copy of the original on said receiving sheet, the combination therewith of a feeding mechanism comprising:

first guide means forming a looped path for the joint passage of said master and transfer sheets in contacting relationship through said exposure device with said master sheet on the outside of the loop and with said transfer sheet turning a sensitive layer toward said master sheet;

second guide means forming a discharge path for said master sheet, said discharge path branching off said looped path at a location beyond said exposure device;

third guide means forming a feed channel for said receiving sheet on a side of said looped path opposite said discharge path, said feed channel extending from said inlet to said developing device; fourth guide means forming a passage for said transfer sheet leading from said location to said developing device, said passage intersecting said looped path at a point no longer occupied by said transfer and master sheets upon arrival of the leading edge of said transfer sheet at the intersection, said passage terminating alongside said feed channel in said developing device whereby said transfer sheet is introduced into the developing device with its sensitive layer facing said receiving sheet;

first feed means for jointly advancing said master and transfer sheets along said looped path and for subsequently directing the latter sheets into said discharge path and said passage, respectively;

second feed means in said channel for said receiving sheet, said second feed means being normally inoperative whereby said receiving sheet is arrested in said channel upon being introduced through said inlet;

control means responsive to the arrival of said transfer sheet in said passage for actuating said second feed means whereby said receiving sheet is advanced into said developing device concurrently with said transfer sheet; and

ejection means for discharging said transfer and receiving sheets from said developing device.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said passage intersects said looped path between said inlet and said exposure device.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said second feed means comprises a pair of feed rollers blocking said path in their unoperated condition, said control means including a driven first control roller in said passage and a nondriven second control roller in said passage spaced from said first control roller by a gap narrower than said transfer sheet whereby said second control roller is rotated by said first control roller through the intermediary of said transfer sheet upon the introduction of the latter into said gap, said second control roller being operatively coupled with at least one of said feed rollers.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said feed means further includes a driven brushing roller in said channel between said feed rollers and said inlet, said brushing roller being positioned for contact with the surface of an inserted transfer sheet blocked by said feed rollers whereby said transfer sheet is continuously urged toward said feed rollers.

5. A copying apparatus comprising:

housing means having an inlet for the joint introduction of a master sheet, a transfer sheet and a receiving sheet in stacked relationship;

an exposure device in said housing means jointly traversable by said master and transfer sheets for reproducing the contents of said master sheet on said transfer sheet;

a developing device above said exposure device jointly traversable by the exposed transfer sheet and said receiving sheet for producing a copy of the original on said receiving sheet;

first guide means forming looped in a vertical plane for the joint passage of said master and transfer sheets in contacting relationship through said exposure device with said master sheet on the outside of the loop and with said transfer sheet turning a sensitive layer toward said master sheet;

second guide means forming a discharge path for said master sheet, said discharge path branching off the lower run of said looped path at a location beyond said exposure device;

third guide means forming a feed channel for said receiving sheet above said looped path, said feed channel extending from said inlet to said developing device;

fourth guide means forming a passage for said transfer sheet leading from said location to said developing device, said passage intersecting the upper run of said looped path at a point between said inlet and said ex posure device and terminating alongside said feed channel in said developing device whereby said trans for sheet is introduced into the developing device with its sensitive layer turned upwardly ceiving sheet;

first feed means for jointly advancing said master and transfer sheets along said looped path and for subsequently directing the latter sheets into said discharge path and said passage, respectively;

second feed means in said channel for said receiving sheet, said second feed means being normally inoperative whereby said receiving sheet is arrested in said channel upon being introduced through said inlet;

control means responsive to the arrival of said transfer sheet in said passage for actuating said second feed means whereby said receiving sheet is advanced into said developing device concurrently with said transfer sheet; and

ejection means for discharging said transfer and receiving sheet from said developing device.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing means comprises a main housing enclosing said exposure and developing devices along with part of said first, third and fourth guide means, said housing means further comprising an ancillary housing provided with said inlet and enclosing said first and second feed means along with the remainder of said guide means, said housings being detachably interconnected through said first, third and fourth guide means, said ancillary housing further having an outlet for said master sheet at the end of said discharge path.

7. In an apparatus comprising housing means having to face said re inlet means with a first slot for the joint introduction of a master sheet and a transfer sheet and a second slot for the insertion of a receiving sheet, an exposure device in said housing means jointly traversable by said master and transfer sheets for reproducing the contents of the master sheet on said transfer sheet, and a developing device jointly traversable by the exposed transfer sheet and said re ceiving sheet for producing a copy of the master sheet on said receiving sheet, the combination therewith of a feeding mechanism comprising;

first guide means forming a first path for the joint passage of said master and said transfer sheets in contacting relationship from said first slot through said exposure device;

second guide means forming a second path for the discharge of said master sheet, said second path branching off said first path at a location beyond said exposure device;

third guide means forming a third path for the feeding of said receiving sheet from said second slot to said developing device;

fourth guide means forming a fourth path for advancing said transfer sheet from said location to said developing device, said fourth path terminating alongside said third path in said developing device;

feed means for jointly advancing said master and transfer sheet-s along said first path and for subsequently directing the latter sheets into said second and fourth paths, respectively;

a pair of feed rollers straddling said third path, said feed rollers being normally inoperative for arresting said receiving sheet in its travel from said second slot to said developing device;

a driven first control roller in said fourth path and a nondriven second control roller in said fourth path spaced from said first control roller by a gap narrower than said transfer sheet whereby said second control roller is rotated by said first control roller through the intermediary of said transfer sheet upon the introduction of the latter into said gap, said second control roller being operatively coupled with at least one of said feed rollers; and

ejection means for discharging said transfer and receiving sheets from said developing device,

8. The combination defined in claim 7, further including a driven brushing roller in said third path between said feed rollers and said second slot, said brushing roller :being positioned for contact with the surface of an inserted transfer sheet blocked by said feed rollers whereby said transfer sheet is continuously urged toward said feed rollers.

10 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESIIPATENTS 3,024,716 3/62 LiIn-berger 27164 X 3,107,596 10/63 Arnold et a1 271-63'X ROBERT B. REEVES, Acting Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. IN A COPYING APPARATUS COMPRISING HOUSING MEANS HAVING AN INLET FOR THE POINT INTRODUCTION OF A MASTER SHEET, A TRANSFER SHEET AND A RECEIVING SHEET IN STACKED RELATIONSHIP, WAN EXPOSURE DEVICE IN SAID HOUSING MEANS JOINTLY TRAVERSABLE BY SAID MASTER AND TRANSFER SHEETS FOR REPRODUCING THE CONTENTS OF SAID SHEET ON SAID TRANSFER SHEET, AND A DEVELOPING DEVICE JOINTLY TRAVERSABLE BY THE EXPOSED TRANSFER SHEET AND SAID RECEIVING SHEET FOR PRODUCING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ON SAID RECEIVING SHEET, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A FEEDING MECHANISM COMPRISING: FIRST GUIDE MEANS FORMING A LOOPED PATH FOR THE JOINT PASSAGE OF SAID MASTER AND TRANSFER SHEETS IN CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP THROUGH AID EXPOSURE DEVICE WITH SAID MASTER SHEET ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LOOP AND WITH SAID TRANSFER SHEET TURNING A SENSITIVE LAYER TOWARD SAID MASTEWR SHEET; SECOND GUIDE MEANS FORMING A DISCHARGE PATH FOR SAID MASTER SHEET, SAID DISCHARGE PATH BRANCHING OFF SAID LOOPED PATH AT A LOCATION BEYOND SAID EXPOSURE DEVICE; THIRD GUIDE MEANS FORMING A FEED CHANNEL FOR SAID RECEIVING SHEET ON A SIDE OF SAID LOOPED PATH OPPOSITE SAID DISCHARGE PATH, SAID FEED CHANNEL EXTENDING FROM SAID INLET TO SAID DEVELOPING DEVICE; 